Wall structure of panels and posts



June 18, 1957 l, MUHR 2,795,949

WALL STRUCTURE OF PANELS AND POSTS Filed June 14, 195o s shets-sheet 1 J. MUHR WALL STRUCTURE 0F PANELS AND POSTS June 18, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14 1950 Li691 T1515 COA/c6622( g INVENToR. gwwa'; l. 9%?

June 18, 1957 J. MUHR WALL STRUCTURE: oF PANELS AND PosTs 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 14, 1950 i gf IIE. I9

AE m1 OQO s y. @M M@ 2 2 .4 @m m J J O C TIE Z4 2,7 95,949 WALL STRUCTURE F PANELS AND POSTS John Muhr, Miami, Fla. Application June 14, 1950, Serial No. 167,969 3 Claims. (Cl. 72-29) This invention relates to a building and more particularly to a building that is erected mostly from factory produced sections that can be easily assembled on the site, thereby requiring only a small amount of raw material that is fabricated on the site with a small amount of labor and time.

Numerous attempts have been made in the past to produce a fabricated house or building from parts manufactured at a factory, with varying degrees of success. Most of these attempts have been found objectionable for one reason or another, either the cost is prohibitive or the finished product is not acceptable to the general public.

An object of this invention is to provide sections adapted to be interlocked in such a manner that the finished structure resembles conventional masonry buildings constructed from building materials now appearing on the market, the sections being so designed that inexperienced labor may erect a building in a comparatively short period of time, the finished building'having the desired insulation properties to 'meet the requirements in various types of climates.

Another object of this invention is to provide sections for use in erecting buildings wherein the sections when assembled are provided with insulation cells or cavities that may either form air pockets or provide vacuum spaces, thereby reducing heat losses in winter and maintaining the inside of the building cool in summer.

Another object of this invention is to provide interlocking sections temporarily held together by a key that may have insuicient strength for permanent use, which key may function as an insulating member in the finished structure, this key being reinforced by permanent interlocking means before the struct-ure is completed.

Another object of this invention is to provide sections having interlocking means that is adapted to interlock the sections at various angles, depending entirely upon the requirements of the finished structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide interlocking panels so constructed, arranged and finished that some of the panels are adapted to be used as outside panels and others as inside panels, the panels being provided with interlocking means which function as posts or studdings for the nished structure, the outside panels and inside panels being arranged in spaced relation from each other in such a manner as to provide air cells between the panels to provide insulation for the structure, the interlocking means being insulated for preventing trans-fer of heat through the interlocking means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wall section having a plurality of cells formed between the outside panel and inside panel and one or more intermediate panels interlocked together so as to form air cells or pockets between the several panels, the pockets or cells extending between interlocking means to thereby provide insulation.

Another object of this invention is to provide sections, some of which constitute panels and others constitute frame members adapted for use at the ends of panels so as to form a finished assembly, whether the end of the panels is the end of a wall or the termination of a door or window opening, the end members being provided with interlocking means adapted to interlock the panels for securing the members together into a rigid structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide sections made from a suitable material adapted to simulate conventional window frames and door frames, these frames being provided with interlocking means adapted to interlock panel sections.

Another object of this invention is to provide sections for use in erecting a building, which sections are provided with cavities Iforming insulation pockets, the insulation pockets being adapted either for use as air cells or as vacuum chambers.

Another object of this invention is to provide sections for use in erect-ing a building, which sections are made from an initially plastic material that is somewhat porous, the initially plastic material bein-g formed so as to provide .pockets adapted to form vacuum pockets or cells, the sections being coated with a sealing material impervious to the passage of air and moisture.

,Another object of this invention is to provide a fireproof building.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure l is a side elevational view of a plurality of panels.

Figure 2 is a -top plan view looking down upon Figure l, with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of a corner post.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a wall section adapted for use as a partition.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of an interlocking T for joining a plurality of wall sections or other sections together.

Figure 6 is another corner section in the form of a cross adapted to form four corners.

Figure 7 is an L- haped corner post for joining parttion sections together.

Figure 8 is an end section adapted for Aforming an end of a panel, which panel may be used as an outside wall.

Figure 9 is a post adapted to join lineal panels together.

Figure l0 discloses a plurality of door frame sections adapted to interlock wall panels.

Figure` ll is a corner post for joining the panels together.

Figure 12 is a post adapted to be mounted between panel members.

Figure 13 is a panels.

Figure 14 is a top plan view of a wall utilizing one or more various types of post sections.

Figure 14A discloses a modified corner assembly.

Figure l5 is another modification disclosing the use of various types of sections used as posts in joining panel members together in a wall.

Figure lSA is a fragmentary another modification.

Figure 15B is another fragmentary top plan view disclosing another modification.

Figure 16 is a top plan view to form a round corner.

Figure 17 is another modification of a corner post section forming a rounded corner on the outside and a square corner on the inside.

Figure 18 discloses an exploded view showing the separate sections arranged in spaced relation from each other.

corner post section adapted to interlock top plan view disclosing of two sections adapted which sections may be joined together so as to form a window frame.

Figure 19 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the section line 19-19 of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is another cross sectional view taken substantially on the section line 20-20 of Figure 18.

Figure 21 is a fragmentary top plan view of a corner and panel assembly utilizing an intermediary panel section.

Figure 22 is another fragmentary plan view disclosing post sections adapted for use in a straight wall.

Figure 23 is a top plan view of a panel section utilizing an intermediary panel member.

Figure 24 discloses a plurality of sections adapted to ber.

In the preferred modification, vided having apertured lugs on one side thereof and in and the apertures in the lugs on the outside panel regthat when these apertures are provided with a key member, the outside panels and the inside panels are interlocked, the lugs, together with the key member, co-

assembly to the opposite side of the assembly.

This has been accomplished byproviding an outside panel section 50 andan inside panel section 52. This panel member 50 is provided with a plurality of laterally disposed lugs or interlocking members 54, each provided with a vertically disposed aperture 56, the apertures 56 in the several lugs or interlocking members 54 on one end being aligned. A plurality of lugs 60 arranged invertical rows or in horizontal rows, depending upon-the particular purpose for which the panel is used, are provided with apertures 62, the apertures 62 in all of the lugs 60 arranged in one row being aligned. The panel member 52 is provided with like lugs or projections 54 and 60, but staggered with respect to the lugs or projections of the adjacent panel members 50, so that when the two panels S and 52 are placed side by side, the lugs 60 of the panel 50 are positioned between the lugs 60 of the panel S2, the apertures 62 in the lugs of both panels being aligned.

These panels S0 and 52 are preferably manufactured in a suitable factory and provided with a finished outer surface or inner surface, as the case may be. The customer may select the color scheme when placing his order. When the structure is completed, both the outside and the inside have been properly finished, so that no further application of paint is required excepting possibly along the seams, as will appear more fully later. These panels are shipped from the factory properlywrapped or protected, so as to prevent marring or damage to the panels in shipment and then mounted in position on the site as will appear more fully later. The lugs projecting outwardly from the ends of the panels may be used as interlocking means for securing panels together to form a wall.

These panels may be made in any suitable width. For example, if it is desirable to have a window opening two feet above the oor level and the rst panel is to be placed at the oor level, then it is preferable that the panels be approximately two feet wide, so that a window frame may be mounted on top of these panels. The length of the panels is optional. The sections between the windows may consist of similar panels having a height equal to the height of the window frame, for example, if the windows are four feet high, the panel sections between windows may be four feet high, or two sections of panels, each interlock sections utilizing an intermediary panel mem-` 4 two feet high, may be used between adjacent windows. Finally, sections will be placed above the windows and on top of the sections of panels placed between the windows to provide the proper height to the ceiling.

Sections, as applied to panels herein, is used to designate at least two panels cooperating to form a portion of a wall.

For economy it would be preferable that the height of the windows should be on the same level as the height above the door frames, so that the top sections could extend throughout the entire periphery of the outside wall of the building, joined together by suitable post sections, corner sections, et cetera. The panel sections forming the inside and the outside of the wall structure are preferably held together temporarily by tubes 69 of suitable insulating material. For example, a suitable fibrous material, properly treated to prevent vermin therein, is passed through the openings 62. The outside diameter of the tubular insulating members is slightly less, but not much less than the diameter of the apertures 62. Furthermore, in order to prevent transfer of heat from one panel to another through the lugs 60, an insulating member, not shown, is placed between adjacent lugs 60 and an insulating member 68 is placed between the adjacent panel member and the ends of the lugs. These insulating members are preferably secured to the lugs at the factory, so that when the panel members are shipped, the insulating members are in position on the lugs in readiness for assembly.

In order to provide rigidity for the walls, so that the load carried by the walls may be adequately supported, and furthermore, to strengthen the wall sections so as to better withstand wind loads, hollow corner post members 70, one of which has been shown in Figure 3, are provided with vlugs or projections 72 having apertures 74, the lugs 72 being spaced so as to extend between the lugs 54 of the panels 50 and 52, the apertures 74 in the lugs 72 registering with the apertures 56 in the lugs 54. The tubular members or tubes 69 project through the apertures 56 and 72 to hold the post 70 to the adjacent panels temporarily in xed spaced relation.

The inside of post member 70 is preferably lined with suitable insulating material 76. As soon as the structure has been completed, the apertures through the tubular members 69 and the cavities 78 in the corner post mernbers 70 are lled with concrete, as indicated by the reference numeral 71, or any other suitable material that may be poured into the openings and that solidies to provide a permanent key cooperating with the tubular members 69 to permanently interlock the panel members and the corner posts together.

In Figure 2 a linepost 80 has been shown. This line post is provided with lugs or extensions 72 identical to those described in connection with the corner post disclosed in Figure 3. In addition thereto, the line post 80 has been provided with lugs 82 somewhat larger than the lugs 72. The lugs 82 have been provided with apertures 84. These lugs 82 are adapted for use in interlocking lugs of a partition panel 92 provided with a plurality of apertures 94. These partition panels may be used for forming `a partition in the structure. They need not be double Vand therefore are somewhat wider or thicker, so as to provide adequate strength, the apertures 94 having a dual function, in that these apertures provide sound deadening means and further reduce the weight of the partition panels.

In order to provide either corner posts or T posts for the partitions, post members provided with lugs 82 located on three sides of a corner post 102 provided with lugs 82 extending at right angles to each other, or a cross post 104 provided with lugs 82 extending in four directions, may be used in joining adjacent partition panels 92, so as to form partitions extending at right angles to each other in two, three or four directions, as the case may be, End post 101 is shown in` Figure 8.

In Figure 9 a substantially H-shaped post 110 has been shown, provided with lugs 72 adapted to engage side wall panels or outer wall panels. spacer and is convenient to use in holding the ends of the panels together, to thereby facilitate construction of the building.

Figure discloses a door frame which is formed by uniting mitered side sections or uprights 120 with the mitered lintel sections 124. The upright sections are provided with lugs 122 adapted to be seated between the lugs 72 when the door frame is to be used as an outer wall. If the door frame is to be used as an inside door frame, the uprights are provided with lugs positioned between the lugs 90. A lintel 124, extending across the top of the door frame, is mitered, so as to be laid in position `upon the sections 120 for completing the top of the door frame. In assembling the panels, the corner posts, the line posts, the end posts, the door frame and window frame (which will be described later), suitable adhesive or cement or sealing compound is used between all joints, so as to provide a weathertight seal which, in addition to providing protection from the elements also provides a bond between adjacent panels and other sections joined to the panels or to the other parts, so as to provide a tight enclosure.

Instead of using a corner post like the one disclosed in Figure 3, the inside panel members 50 may be interlocked at the corners, as shown in Figure 14, so that no corner post is required between the panels 50 extending at right angles to each other. The panels 52 would not extend to the extreme outer corner, in that the panels 50 and 52 are preferably of the same size. That being the case, a corner member 130 is provided with apertured extensions 72 adapted to interlock the end extensions S4 of the panels 52. Member 130 provides a corner member. Furthermore, it provides a cavity 132 that may be properly insulated as described above, and that may be filled with solid matter such as concrete poured in position after the building has been assembled.

In Figure 14A a modified corner assembly has been used, wherein a member 134 is used to join the inside panel members 50 at the corner and a member 136 is used for the outside corner. It is to be noted that member 136 is somewhat larger than member 130, in that the ends of the panels adjacent the corner are arranged in spaced relation with each other. The dimensions of members 134 and 136 are so selected yas to fill the gap between the panels. The cavity 138 formed by corner members 134 and 136, together with the lugs of adjacent panels, provides a cavity 138 to be filled with concrete or any other matter that solidies and forms a rigid corner.

For the purpose of ornamentation, it may be desirable to have a projection extending outwardly or inwardly from a wall. This may be accomplished by the use of a member 140 provided with lugs 72 adapted to interlock the lugs 54 of the side panel. This member 140 is provided with an outwardly or inwardly directed portion 142. In Figure 14 an outwardly directed portion has been shown. In order to present a smooth surface on the inside, a member 151B having the same width as member 140 and provided with laterally disposed lugs 72 is used in joining inside panels 50. In the event it is found desirable to have a projection on both the outside and the inside of a wall, two members 140 may be used between adjacent sections, one of which projects inwardfy from the wall and the other outwardly from the wall. The cavity 160 located between members 140 and 150 or the cavity 162 located between members 140, shown in Figure l5, may be used for a drain pipe, for a soil pipe, for electrical conduits or it may be used as a ue for conducting heat, or it may be used for a chimney or a ventilation duct, depending entirely upon the particular requirements. In Figure a passage 164 'has been provided between the members 150. In the event it is found necessary to reinforce the Wall, the cavities 160, 162 and 164, as the case may be, may be used for concrete This may be used as a or other reinforcing material that may be poured into position and that solidifies or cures after being poured.

In Figure 15A another type of projection has been shown. A curved member 170, provided with the lugs 72, is used to form an inwardly directed curved surface and a like member 170, mounted on the outside, is used in forming an outwardly curved surface. This may be used to simulate a pilaster. The cavity between members may be used for housing a soil pipe or a vent pipe.

In connection with curved surfaces, it may be desirable to provide :a curved corner member. This has been shown in Figures 13 and 16 where a member 180, provided with lugs 72, forms an outer corner and member 182, provided with lugs 72 forms an inner corner. The cavity 184 is preferably lined with insulating material 186 and eventually filled with concrete or any other suitable aggregate that sets or cures upon being poured into position. In the event an outside rounded corner is desired or a square inside corner, a curved member 190, shown in Figure 17, may be used. The inside corner may be provided with a corner member 192. Members and 192 are both provided with lugs 72 for interlocking with the lugs 54 of the panel members 50 and 52. Agan, the inside of members 190 and 192 may be lined with insulating material 194 and the cavity 196 eventually lled with concrete or any other suitable aggregate In Figures 18, 19 and 20 is shown portions of the section members forming a window frame. The vertical section members 230 are mitered, and when atached to mitered end members 240 and 242, form a vindow frame provided with apertured lugs 232 adapted to interlock with the lugs 54 on the ends yof the panels. This window frame has been shown for use in connection with two panels. It could, of course, be made so as to be used with three panels, which will be described later, by providing another row of lugs. An outwardly projecting portion 234 may be used as a seat for a`window pane or it may be used as a seat for a window frame.' The top and bottom of the window frame is spanned by the lintel 240 and the sill 242. These may be identical as far as the structure is concerned, as clearly seen in the cross sectional view shown in Figure 22. These members have also been provided with a projection 244 registering with the projection 234. The ends of members 230, 240 and 242 are preferably mitered, so asto form a diagonal seam that is coated with a suitable cementitious material for sealing the joints between these several members.

For extreme conditions, as for example in extremely cold climates or where additional insulation is desired, as for example in the manufacture of buildings for use as cold storage plants, lockers and the like, it may be 'desirable to provide additional air pockets or air chambers to further prevent heat losses. For such astructure three or more panels arranged side by side so as to form a wall may be used, `as shown in Figures 18, 19, 2() and 24.

In Figure 21 the panel members 50 and 52, identical to those described in connection with the preferred embodiment, do not interlock; but instead, interlock with an intermediary panel member 200. This intermediary panel 200 is provided at each end with a plurality of projections or lugs 262, identical to those described in con nection with the preferred embodiment. In addition thereto, the medial panel member 200 is provided with laterally disposed projections or lugs 204 offset with respect to the lugs 60 on the panel members 50 and 52, so that the lugs -or projections 204 project between the lugs 60. By inserting tubular members into the apertures in the lugs 202 and 204 and the apertures in the lugs 60, it may readily be `seen that the three panels may be interlocked into a unitary structure.

As may best be seen by referring to Figure 21, the corner member 210 is provided with three sets of lugs 212, 214 and 216 on each side where they are joined to the panel members S0, 200 and 52 respectively. Likewise, the spacer members 220, which may be used either as a post or as a ue, are provided with three series of lugs engaging adjacent channel members. So is member 222 A customer, after deciding upon his plan and ornamentation, may place his order for parts to be supplied from the factory. He may designate the color scheme, both for the outside and for the inside. He may designate the type of ornamentation. For example, the outside panels may be made to simulate lapsiding or stone or stucco, or any other suitable nish. The inside panels may be dat, may have a sand linish, they may simulate tile, masonary or various types of designs, as used in modern buildings. Furthermore, either the outside or the inside panels may be embossed with insignia or symbols, depending upon the desires of the customer. The customer or builder is then ready to proceed with the erection of the buildings.

ivof plasterers and painters, with the exception of possibly `the painting of the exposed portions of the bonding malrial used in the seams between the panels. This results iwan economical building that is low in cost, but at the Salle time dependable, eicient and strong. The finished building partakes,l the nature of a steel frame'building in that\ the weight is carried by theposts without subjecting the all panels to excessive stresses.

Tin panel members, door frame sections, window frame sectiois, posts, et cetera, may be made from masonry, thereby producing a building that is practically indestructible in 'that it is not susceptible to rotting, destruction by vermin, ysuch as tenmites, and at the same time the nishd building t may simulate a conventional building erected fnom conventional building material, thereby overcoming much of the usual trade resistance to fabricated houses.

The Vtype of windows and doors used is a lmatter of choice depending upon climatic conditions. In tropical climates, insteadof glass windows, louvers may be used, generally known in the trade as jalousies If windows lare required, single windows or-double windows may be used, depending entirely upon the requirements in the particular climate.

The panels are preferably waterproofed, eiler on one side or both sides. Likewise, other exposed members may be waterproofed. j

Although the `preferred embodiment ofthe device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist ina device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim;

1. A wall structure including the combination-of vertically mounted hollow posts, each of said posts having two vertical rows of lugs projecting from one side` thereof, `the distance between adjacent lugs in a row being substantially equal to the height of the lugs, a pair of panels positioned between adjacent posts, each of said panels having lugs projecting from the ends thereof, the lugs of the panels bei'ng interleaved and substantially filling the spaces between the lugs of the posts, each of the panels having vertical rows of laterally projecting lugs, the lugs of one panel being interleaved with the lugs of the other panel, each of the lugs having a vertically disposed aperture, and means passing through the apertures to interlock the panels to the posts and the panels to each other, said means including a plurality lof tubular brous members passed through the apertures, there being one tubular member for each row of lugs for temporarily holding the panels and the posts in fixed spaced relation, and concrete filling the tubular members for permanently interlocking the panels to eachother and t the posts.

2.v A wall structure comprising, in combination, an upright wall section including two opposing panels, and means for securing said panels together in separate parallel planes, said means including a vertical row of meshing apertured lugs between said panels, alternate lugs in said row being integral with one of said panels, the remaining lugs in said row being integral with the other of said panels, said panels veach being provided with vertically spaced apertured lugs on the ends thereof, a pair of upright posts, there being one said post disposed adjacent each. end of said wall section, each said post having a rst vertical row of spaced apertured lugs meshing withv the lugs at the adjacent end of one of said panels, each said post having a second vertical row of spaced apertured lugs meshing with the lugs at the adjacent end of the other of said panels, the apertures in the lugs of each said vertical row of meshing lugs being in registry, and a plurality of hollow cylindrical tubes, there being one tube projecting through each vertical row of meshing lugs, said hollow tubes being filled with concrete.

3. A wall structure comprising, in combination, a pair of w-all sections disposed in spaced parallel end to end relation, an upright hollow post disposed between said wall sections, each wall section including a pair of opposing parallel panels, means for securing said panels together in separate parallel planes, said means including a vertical row of meshing apertured lugs ydisposed between said panels, alternate llugs of said row being integral with one kof said panels, the remaining lugs being integral with the other of said panels, means for securing each said panel to said post, said means including a vertical row of meshing apertured lugs disposed intermediate each said panel and said post, alternate lugsin each row being integral with said post, the remaining lugs in each row being integral with one of said panels, the apertures in the lugs of each vertical row of meshing lugs being in registry, a plurality of hollow cylindrical tubes, there being one said tube projecting through the apertures in each said vertical row of meshing lugs to thereby lock the lugs together, said tubes and `said post being filled with concrete.

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